PROJECTS

signaturemoms.com

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, but I thought I would embrace change this year. As I reflect back on last year, my first thought is, “I survived being a mom to twin teens!” Their fourteenth birthday is in February so this time of year also marks my accomplishment, and yes I view that as an accomplishment.
If I’m honest with myself, I can also admit there is definitely room for some improvement. Since I know that I can only control my behavior, I plan to focus on what I can do dif...

Your Teen

The school bus arrives at 6:40 a.m. So I expect my daughter to be downstairs, eating breakfast, by 6:25 a.m. If she is even a minute late, the consequence is to turn over her phone and any electronic devices for the evening.
She needs 15 minutes to eat breakfast, gather her things, and walk to the bus, which is why I gave her that timeline. If she misses the bus, then I will have to drive her, which will inconvenience me and possibly cause her to be late for school.
I believe in the importanc...

Your Teen

“I got detention for forgetting my book three times in a row,” read Michael’s text. His mother wasn’t surprised. Michael was diagnosed with ADHD when he was eight years old, and she’s received other messages saying he misplaced or even forgotten to do his homework. His mother hoped that he’d be more organized by 13, and she wonders if this is typical teenage behavior or if it’s due to his ADHD.
“Everyone has ADHD behavior at times,” says Dr. Sarah Cheyette, a pediatric neurologist and author ...

grownandflown.com

When Lisa, age 57, first noticed that her mother seemed confused, she assumed it was typical behavior from an 80-year-old. She continued to take it in stride when her mother tried to make a phone call using the TV remote. Lisa became somewhat concerned when her mother started sautéing onions in a pan and then walked outside to get the mail, forgetting the stove was on. When her mother began seeing her long-dead mother in bed with her, Lisa realized there was more to the picture than normal ag...

signaturemoms.com

On Christmas Eve, I sat alone on a bench, in the middle of a crowded mall. My husband, Bob, and our daughters, age 12 and 9, roamed the shops in an attempt to find me the perfect Christmas gift, even though I told them not to.
Bob’s anxiety surrounding this situation caused him to procrastinate, which led to going to the mall an hour before it closed, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Since we had plans for dinner, I tagged along but wasn’t allowed to see what they were buying....

Your Teen

My teenage son gazed into the abyss of the open refrigerator. I envisioned dollar bills floating past his head as the cold air escaped, causing our electric bill to skyrocket.
“Could you please close the refrigerator door?” I asked, trying to remain calm.
“There is nothing to eat and I’m starving!” he groaned, as he dramatically held his stomach.
“The refrigerator is empty because you ate everything from my grocery shopping trip three days ago.”
Hungry Teenagers eat everything!
My son began h...

parentingteensandtweens.com

“EVERYONE has a cell phone but ME,” whined my twelve-year-old daughter.
“Your twin brother doesn’t have one either,” I responded.
A variation of this same conversation had been going on between us for years. Since my twins have lost their North Face Jacket, DS games and other expensive items, I wasn’t too keen to shell out hundreds of dollars for a cell phone for my tweens.
I knew what my daughter was saying was true, that most of her friends did have cell phones. According to Techcrunch, in ...

signaturemoms.com

There is something all moms dread more than anything. I’m not talking about potty training although, that’s up there. I’m referring to the fear that your child will contract lice—ya know those gross little bugs that take up residence in your head??? I’ll give you a moment to finish itching your scalp.
When your kid gets lice, (notice I didn’t write if) in all likelihood, it will go something like this:
The Letter
You receive a letter from the school or daycare saying, “Check your kid’s head b...

Your Teen

“Barricade the door,” a man shouted.
The people in the room scattered in different directions and frantically began shoving desks and chairs in front of the entryway.
This might sound like a scene from the latest Tom Cruise action movie, but it wasn’t. Rather, it was an ALICE training at my teens’ high school. I participated in the two-hour hands-on active shooter simulation which I found both informative and scary.
What is the ALICE Training Program?
In response to the Columbine shootings, O...

signaturemoms.com

I love fitness classes. There are many benefits to participating in a fitness class as opposed to working out on your own. In general classes are social, more fun and push you to workout harder. If you are enjoying your workouts, you are more likely to want to return and continue exercising.
Research studies have demonstrated exercise is a type of anti-depressant equivalent to therapy or medication for some people. Exercise also improves physical health, can lead to weight loss, and decreases...

signaturemoms.com

In an attempt to break the deafening teen silence during breakfast, I began a conversation.
“So I saw a meme . . .”
Laughter erupted from my twin teens.
“It’s pronounced MEEEM, not MEH-MM. You sound like Elle’s mom who said MeeMee,” my teen daughter corrected me.
Just for the record—I’m not alone. There is an entire article written about how to pronounce meme.
I didn’t let the laughter or mispronunciation deter me. If I did, I would never communicate with my twin teenagers.
“Anyway, as I was ...

Sasee

“Does this spark joy?” I asked myself.
Cradling an apple spice candle in my hand, I sniffed the top of it.
The scent is gone probably from sitting in the attic for 15 years, I thought. It definitely isn’t sparking any joy.
I tossed it in the overflowing trash pile.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo had been a best seller for 86 weeks when I first discovered it. That discovery preempted a month-long marathon decluttering of my house. I emptied every drawer, closet and bin w...

Your Teen

“It’s time for karate class,” I said to my 13-year-old son.
“Do I have to go?”
“Yes.”
This has been a common exchange between us for a variety of activities over the past 10 years. He has tried everything from baseball to cooking class—yet nothing holds his interest as much as video games. Every now and then I wonder if it is worth investing money and time into classes or sports he doesn’t want to participate in. But if I hold off on signing him up for things, he does nothing except play vide...

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